Surname Calfer - Meaning and Origin

Calfer: What does the surname Calfer mean?

The last name Calfer is of French origin, most likely deriving from the Occitan language. The word 'calfier' in Occitan is an expression for a farmer or a landowner, or someone in authority. It is likely that the family began to use the name Calfer as a descriptive name indicating their occupation, with the literal translation being "farmer" or "land owner".

The Calfer surname is primarily found in France, with some branches of the family having migrated to the United States in the 19th Century. The Calfer name is associated with several places, with some of the earliest occurrences in the French provinces of Burgundy and Lorraine.

Today, the Calfer surname is quite common throughout Europe, and it is especially prominent in France and parts of the United States. People with this surname have tended to stay within their own communities over the centuries, and the name is still strongly associated with farmers and landowners in these regions. Calfer is typically used as a given name, often passed down from generation to generation, and is sometimes used as a first name in certain countries.

Since its use is largely limited to France and its former colonies, the name Calfer is not very well-known outside these areas. However, it carries a unique meaning and history, making the Calfer family a unique group of people with a distinguished origin.

Calfer: Where does the name Calfer come from?

The last name Calfer is commonly found in the United States, predominantly throughout the Midwest and Northeast regions. Records show that the Calfer surname was most prevalent in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and Illinois in the early 20th century. According to Ancestry.com, the name Calfer can also be found in Mexico, Canada, England, and Scotland, with some records dating back to the late 1600s.

The Calfer name comes from a German and English origin and is associated with several different ancestral lines. The name is often connected to a place name from Calver, England and references a geographical location from the old English calve, meaning “calves” and may have referred to a grazing site of young cattle. It has also been suggested that the Calfer surname may be associated with the numbers of cattle regularly being either held or traded at a particular location by a family.

In the United States today, the Calfer surname is largely found in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York, with a few other states included. There are still some notable Calfers in the US, including Tom Calfer, a successful Ohio business owner, and Dale Calfer, the retired interior designer from Chicago, Illinois. The Calfer family is known as a large, close-knit family who has grown and prospered in the United States.

Variations of the surname Calfer

The surname Calfer is derived from the Anglo-Saxon given name Cælferth, meaning “boldness”. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Calfer include: Calfrey, Calfree, Calfreys, Calfreys, Calfrees, Calver, Calverley, Calverly, Calvert, Calverte, Calvery, Calvary, Caulfeild, Caverly, Cauffer, Cauffrey, Cauffray, Cauffrey, Cauffry, Cawfre, Colfer, and Colver.

Calfer is an uncommon British surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. As a given name, Cælferth could either refer to someone “as brave as a wolf,” “inspired”, or “as bold as a calf”. It is believed that the Calfer surname was mainly found in the counties of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

In the Middle Ages, the name Calfer was often used as a first and last name. A few examples of its usage include the Calfreys of Knighton, Shropshire, and the Calfers of Orlingbury, Northamptonshire.

Calfer was also used as a placename in several English counties. For example, Calfers, which refers to the location of a spring in Covedale, Suffolk, is found in English records as early as 1348.

The Calfer spelling of Cælferth is an example of an Anglicized spelling, which was common during the Norman-Anglo encounters of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Likewise, the spelling of surnames like Calfreys came about due to the consistent mispronunciation and misspellings of the original Middle English.

The Calfer surname is uncommon today, but it continues to be carried on in its various spelling variants. It remains a distinctive English surname, associated with an ancient Anglo-Saxon heritage that can still be found in certain English counties.

Famous people with the name Calfer

• Kathy Caffrey: The famous journalist and TV host is well known for her work covering topics such as entertainment, travel and health.
• Georgia Calvert: Award-winning actress whose notable roles include film, television and theater performances.
• Robert Calfer: The prominent British business leader is best known for his work as a managing director of a major corporation.
• John Cafferty: Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter best known for his work in the band Beaver Brown Band.
• Alison Calfer: Broadway producer and Tony Award-winning director whose body of work includes musicals, theatrical performances, and television programs.
• Melissa Cafferty: Multimedia engineer and audio recording specialist whose credits include films, music videos, and online programming.
• Dir. Carla Cafferty: Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who is well known for her contributions to documentaries, shorts and feature films.
• Justin Caliber: Singer and songwriter who has achieved a successful career in the pop and hip-hop genres.
• Matt Calfer: Music producer and audio engineer who has worked with major entertainment companies such as Sony Music and Universal Music Group.
• Bill Calvert: Financial advisor, educator and author whose expertise focuses on retirement, investing and estate planning.

Other surnames

Calfe